Apparatus for intermittently operating phonographs and the like



Aug. 7, 1956 H. E. KILLIAN APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING PHONOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 12, 1952 INVENTOR. HENRY 5. k/L .4 MN

HTTOKNE ys United States Patent APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING PHONOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Henry E. Killian, 'Anniston, Ala., assignor of ten per cent to Louis Leamon, Birmingham, twenty per cent to Birmingham Vending Company, Birmingham, a partnership, and seventy per cent to Lambert Music Company, Auburn, Ala., a partnership Application November 12, 1952, Serial No. 320,067

3 Claims. (Cl. 194 15) My invention relates to apparatus for intermittently operating a phonograph or the like such as the usual coin controlled phonographs located in many public places.

An object of my invention is to provide means which may be readily attached to the usual coin controlled phonograph to cause the machine automatically to play a given record at definite intervals of time except during those periods when the machine is operating in response to the insertion therein of a coin.

My invention contemplates means of the character designated which may be placed in the control circuits of the usual coin controlled phonograph which shall be efiective to cause the machine to play a predetermined record, such for instance, as a record advertising the remaining records on the machine, during certain intervals of time when the machine is otherwise unengaged.

My invention further contemplates a form of electromechanical mechanism for association with existing phonographs which in no way interferes with the operation of the phonograph when coins are inserted therein, my improved means preferably being associated with the phonograph amplifier, accumulator, turntable and changer motor through the usual accumulator, whereby, even if a coin is inserted while the phonograph is energized through my improved means, the record or records paid for and selected will be played immediately after the phonograph completes the cycle automatically initiated by my improved means.

Apparatus illustrating the features of my invention is shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of a more or less conventional type of electrically operated coin controlled phonograph, my improved mechanism being associated with the control circuits.

Referring now to the drawing it will be seen that my invention is adapted for association with a phonograph circuit embodying the usual accumulator 10. Such phonographs also have an electric motor 11 which serves to operate the turntable as well as the record changing mechanism, neither of which is shown in the drawing.

The phonograph is equipped with a loudspeaker indicated generally by the numeral 12 which is in circuit with an amplifier 13 in the customary manner. The motor and amplifier may be supplied with current from a source of current indicated by the lines 14.

The accumulator may be under control of a plurality of coin actuated, momentarily closeable switches each of which is indicated by the numeral 16 so that as coins of different denominations are inserted the machine is readied to play a corresponding number of records. The phonograph is also shown as being equipped with the usual normally open, manually closed record selector switches 17, three of which only are indicated in the drawing.

At 18 is indicated a transformer which has two low voltage take-01f secondaries indicated at 19 and 21. The specific record to be played upon the insertion of a coin and the momentary closing of one of the switches 16 is determined by the energization of one or more of the ice selector solenoids indicated at 22. As indicated, the solenoids 22 are included in circuit with the individual switches 17. The closing of either of the switches 17 energizes its associated solenoid 22 if a coin has been inserted and the accumulator 10 has been actuated. Therefore, when one of the switches 16 has been closed, current from the secondary 21 is employed momentarily to energize the appropriate one of the solenoids 22, depending upon which switch 17 is manually closed.

The energization of one of the solenoids 22 effects the selection of the desired record by a means which is not shown and also brings a movable switch contact 23 into contact with a stationary contact 24. The closing of these contacts energizes the motor 11 and the amplifier 13. It will be seen that these switches supply the motor 11 and amplifier 13 with power from the lines 14.

All of the foregoing describes a more or less conventional form of coin controlled phonograph mechanism.

My invention consists in adding to the circuits and mechanism above indicated a time switch indicated generally by the numeral 26. The switch 26 may embody a movable contact 27, driven by any form of mechanism such as a synchronous motor, and a fixed or stationary contact 28. The switch 26 is effective when closed to energize solenoid 22a, similar to the solenoids 22. The motor operating the switch 26 may be supplied with power from a source indicated by the wires 29.

The solenoid 22a controls a switch having a movable contact 23a and a fixed contact 24a. The switch formed by the contacts 23a and 24a is in parallel with the switches controlled by the solenoids 22 so that whenever the solenoid 22a is energized the motor 11 and the amplifier 13 both are energized.

Solenoid 22a is in series with an interrupter switch indicated at 31. The switch 31 is controlled by an electromagnet 32, the electromagnet being in turn controlled by either of the switches associated with the solenoids 22 or 22a through circuits consisting of the lines 33 and 34. The switch 31 is spring biased upwardly by means of a spring 36 so that when the magnet 32 is de-energized switch 31 closes, thus readying solenoid 22a for energization upon closing of the switch 26.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved apparatus may now be explained and understood. It will be apparent that whenever a coin is dropped into the machine and actuates either of the switches indicated at 16, the accumulator will be energized, thus readying the solenoids 22 for energization upon closing of their respective manually operable switches 17. The closing of either of the switches 17 energizes the associated solenoid 22, in turn closing the associated switch constituted by the contacts 23 and 24, energizing the motor 11 and amplifier 13. This makes the selection of the appropriate record, the change mechanism driven by the motor places the record on the turntable and the amplifier energizes the speaker 12.

Assuming that no coins have been deposited in the machine it will be seen that the continuously rotating arm 27 of switch 26 will, at predetermined intervals of time, contact the stationary contact 28. This establishes a circuit from the switch 26, through switch 31, through solenoid 22a, to the source of power 21, and back to the switch. The energization of solenoid 22a closes switch contacts 23a and 24a energizing the motor 11, amplifier 13 and the magnet 32. This selects the predetermined record, which may be a record containing advertising matter or the like, places it on the turntable and plays it for a length of time as determined in the ordinary manner. The energization of magnet 32 opens switch 31 so that in the event coins are deposited in the machine and switches 17 are closed, the advertising record is not interrupted in its play but goes through the usual, complete cycle for a record. Thus, solenoid 220 can be energized only while switch 31 is closed, that is, while its associated solenoid 32 is de-energized. However, in this case, the appropriate solenoid 22 is energized and remains energized while the record selected by the solenoid 22a is being played. Thus, the records selected by the switches 17 are played after the record selected by energization of solenoid 22a has completed its play. The armatures of the solenoids 22 and 220 are returned to the positions indicated in the drawing at the proper time by means, not shown, usually comprising means mechanically to shift the armatures back to the position shown in the drawings when the record has finished playing.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the automatic selection of a predetermined record is effected by the time switch 26 as indicated, Further, the provision of the electromagnet controlled switch 31 eliminates the danger of the apparatus attempting to play a record in response to the insertion of a coin and closing of the switches 17 during the times when it is playing the record initiated by the closing of the time switch or vice versa.

My invention may be employed to play automatically records on which there is advertising of other records in the machine, advertisement of the particular place of business in which the phonograph is placed, or any other desired material may be put on such records and played at intervals, automatically.

My invention lends itself to association with substantially all of the existing forms of coin controlled phonographs. Only minor modifications are necessary.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph having a manually closed record selecting switch and suitable circuits connecting said switch and the phonograph record selecting and playing means, of a time switch effective when closed to cause the phonograph to select and play a predetermined record, a normally closed switch in series with said time switch, a solenoid effective when energized to open the normally closed switch, and circuits connecting the solenoid and said record selecting and playing means efiective to energize the solenoid during periods in which the phonograph operates in response to the closing of the record selecting switch.

2. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph having a plurality of manually closed record selecting switches and record selecting solenoids in circuit therewith, of a time switch, an interrupter switch, an electromagnet operable when energized to open the interrupter switch, another record selecting solenoid, circuits connecting the said other solenoid and said interrupter and time switches in series, and circuits connecting all of the selecting switches to said electro-magnet and effective when either of said selecting switches is closed to energize the electro-magnet.

3. The combination with an electrically operated phonograph of the type embodying a plurality of coin actuated switches and an accumulator operated by said coin actuated switches together with a plurality of manually closed selector switches and individual record selecting solenoids individually controlled by said selector switches, of a time switch, an interrupter switch in series with said time switch, an electro-magnet operable when energized to open the interrupter switch, another record selecting solenoid which is energized only when both the time switch and said interrupter switches are closed, and circuits connecting the electro-magnet for energization substantially concomitantly with the closing of either of the selector switches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,236 Wilcox May 21, 1935 2,102,531 Hoke Dec. 14, 1937 2,232,925 Mills Feb. 25, 1941 2,321,402 Margulis June 8, 1943 2,425,974 Winkler Aug. 19, 1947 2,627,415 Rasmussen Feb. 3, 1953 

